Animal shelters in need: municipalities refuse urgently needed help!

Animal shelters in need: municipalities refuse urgently needed help!

In recent years, the challenges facing animal shelters in Germany have increased. In Hesse in particular, the situation is tense for many facilities, with the local animal shelter in Rüsselsheim exemplifying the problems throughout the country. Eleven municipalities are responsible here and have been making the same financial contribution for a decade. These stagnating resources stand in stark contrast to the rising costs of veterinary care and the need to resocialize hard-to-place animals. The Main-Spitze reports that the animal shelter not only plays an important role in the care and care of found animals, but also actively contributes to avoiding the conditions seen in southern Europe, where many homeless animals have to live on the streets.

A particularly explosive issue is the division of responsibility between the district veterinary office and the Rüsselsheim public order office. After three years without a balance sheet, both authorities clearly do not have the courage to take responsibility and are referring to each other. This not only leads to uncertainty for the employees in the animal shelter, but also to a threat to animal welfare, because without the necessary support from the municipalities, the care of the animals cannot be guaranteed.

Financial difficulties for animal shelters

The pressure on animal shelters is not only increasing in Hesse. Institutions nationwide are also in a precarious financial situation. According to [MDR](https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/gesellschaft/tierheime-tierschuetzer-warning- Fehlende-finanz-100.html), the willingness to donate and support from municipalities are declining. Many animal shelters have to fight hard for found animal contracts, and municipal subsidies vary greatly, with some municipalities only covering the costs for a few weeks. This unequal regulation means that many homes are in acute financial bottlenecks, which can often only be bridged with their own resources.

Interestingly, animal shelters in central Germany are particularly struggling. Reports show that some of them are in the worst crisis since reunification, as the adoption of animals is becoming increasingly slow and many dogs in particular have to wait years for a new home. Inflation and people's uncertain economic situation have resulted in fewer donations, increasing pressure on institutions.

Assessment of the situation

The German Animal Welfare Association expresses concern about the development. President Thomas Schröder describes the situation as “dramatic” and criticizes the “empty promises” of the traffic light coalition, which had promised a consumption foundation to support animal shelters in the coalition agreement. This foundation should have provided long-term financial support, but implementation has so far failed. Dormant investments amounting to around 160 million euros are necessary to create basic infrastructure such as hospital wards in the homes.

Finally, it becomes clear that the problems facing animal shelters in Germany cannot be solved without immediate measures. Many facilities are overcrowded, while support from local communities is often low. It remains to be hoped that those responsible will act quickly, because without support practical animal protection in Germany will be seriously endangered. In this context, the Tagesspiegel warns of the consequences of insufficient financing, which could seriously endanger the future of animal shelters.